STABLES 



189 



wooden plug, kept for the purpose, should be inserted in the 5-inch 

 pipe in the floor, so as to exclude dirt from the pipe and to prevent 

 the horses injuring themselves by putting a foot into it. 



It is often stated that 12' by 12' is large enough for a sick- 

 box. This corresponds to a floor area of 144 square feet. A larger 

 area, however, say 200 square feet, will be found an advantage 

 especially when the box is used for foaling mares. 



A? 



Fig. 152. 



When the walls of loose-boxes are of brick or stone, their lower 

 portion should be protected by a lining of boards extending to a 

 height of at least 4' 6" above the floor. 



This is illustrated by Kg. 153a, which shows the wall forming one 

 side of a stall at the end of a stable so protected; The boards are 

 9" by 1\" tongued and grooved. They are set vertically and nailed to 

 two 3" by 1£" wall-plates. These wall-plates are built into the wall 

 in the usual way ; they are held by strips of hoop iron nailed to 

 them and having their ends built into the joints of the brick-work. 

 In addition each fourth board is bolted through the wall by two 

 £-inch bolts. The top of the boarding is finished off by a strip of 

 hardwood. 



